Police Crack Down On Fake Real Estate Agents In Harare

Police have warned the public about a growing number of fraudulent companies posing as legitimate real estate agencies, a scheme that has been defrauding unsuspecting buyers through fake property sales.

In a recent operation, law enforcement arrested three men linked to the scam: Don Garikai Budzi, 32; Tafadzwa Leslie Mwedzi, 38; and Mordecai Tigere, 41. Detective Inspector Rachel Muteweri, spokesperson for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), said the trio was charged under Section 60 (a) and (b) of the Estate Agents Act (Chapter 27:17) for operating as estate agents without proper registration.

“They were advertising and selling both residential properties and commercial stands without being registered with the Real Estate Agents Council of Zimbabwe,” Det-Insp Muteweri said. “This exposes potential buyers to significant financial risk.”

The accused appeared before the Harare Magistrate Court on Tuesday and were remanded in custody.

Det-Insp Muteweri urged members of the public to always verify the registration status of agents and confirm property ownership before engaging in any transactions. She also cautioned buyers to be suspicious of deals that appear too good to be true.